LORAIN, Ohio — Chad Muska, a skateboarding legend from Lorain, has moved back to Ohio, and he wants to help build a new skatepark in his hometown. 

What You Need To Know

  • Chad Muska, from Lorain, moved home and wants to help build a skatepark in hometown

  • The 12,000-square-foot skatepark would go in Longfellow Park in Lorain

  • The budget is anywhere between half a million and one million dollars

“If you could provide a proper facility to skateboard on, then you’re going to see great results,” he said.

Muska is mostly known for his street skating in the 90s and early 2000s. After a rough start in the beginning of his career from breaking his ankle, he ended up getting sponsored by Toy Machine, went on a U.S. tour and eventually went pro, according to the Skateboarding Hall of Fame Museum. He also began producing music with the help of his appearances in the Tony Hawk Pro Skater series of videos games.

So when Linda O'Connor, the city's department of public property, had the idea of a skatepark, she called up Muska about the idea and his answer was yes.

“We’ve found out that we have a pretty big skate community here and also BMX community. Hoping to give kids new and fun to do in town,” she said.

Muska said that skateboarding brings people together. The hope is to build a 12,000-square-foot skatepark in Longfellow Park in Lorain. Hannah Kiraly, the city’s program manager of community and economic development, said the budget is anywhere from half a million to one million dollars. 

“Currently we’ve earmarked about $245,000 to the project with CDBG funds, which are community development block grant funds,” Kiraly said.

Right now, the majority of those funds are going to the design process of the skatepark. Construction could potentially start in 2025. Muska said that this skatepark being built would be one of the highlights of his career.

“Just to see it be used, you know that’s the main thing. To see a park there, to see kids enjoying it, to see all these age groups and different roller sports enjoying this place. To see a community form,” he said.